North South Tops, Followed by Daffodil and Brac

Private universities in Bangladesh, which began their journey in 1992, have grown to over 100 institutions in nearly 33 years, becoming a key lifeline for higher education for a large segment of post-HSC students. With many shifting from rented spaces to permanent campuses, student interest is surging. According to the University Grants Commission's (UGC) 50th Annual Report 2023, released in March and recently in print, there are currently 110 approved private universities, with 103 operational, hosting a total of 3,58,414 students. Among them, 1,25,010 are female (including 2 third-gender students), and 826 are international.

The report reveals North South University (NSU) tops enrollment with 23,113 students in 2023, followed by Daffodil International University (DIU) at 21,303, BRAC University at 17,325, and East West University at 12,220. At the bottom, the University of Skill Enrichment and Technology has the lowest with just 53 students.

Enrollment grew 4.83% from 2022's 3,41,098 to 3,58,414 in 2023, adding 17,316 students. UGC data shows this expansion reflects private universities' appeal amid public sector challenges.

Dhaka University Physics Professor Kamarul Hasan Mamun told The Daily Campus, "Private university enrollment is rising due to discipline and lack of politics, giving parents peace of mind. Students get timely certificates. Many privates now perform well, focusing on teaching, research, and knowledge creation—core university functions absent in publics today."

He added, "Public unis have become secondary to national politics, clashes, mischief, and maneuvers for positions. Naturally, parents and students avoid them to not waste prime years."

Top and Bottom Private Universities by Enrollment (2023)

The 7 non-operational universities contribute to the 110 total approved. UGC's categorization (A, B, C) highlights quality variances, with C-category institutions lagging in research and employability. As private higher education expands—now rivaling publics in access—experts call for sustained quality improvements to match enrollment growth.